§ Mr. Tilleyasked the Lord Privy Seal, further to his answer of 12 January, what civil rights are enjoyed in each of the countries listed by citizens of the United Kingdom who owe their citizenship to their connection with a former colony.
§ Mr. Luce[pursuant to his reply, 28 January, c. 423]: Generally speaking, the Commonwealth countries listed, not uniquely, reserve civic rights such as the right to vote in parliamentary and local elections, membership of Parliament, entry to the permanent Civil or Armed Services and in some cases the practice of certain professions to persons who are citizens of that country.
All the Commonwealth countries listed limit the franchise and membership of the legislature to their own citizens. In Singapore, Zambia, and Zimbabwe there is no bar to enter the Civil Service—though in Zimbabwe non-citizen entrants to the Civil Service are expected to become citizens—but in the other Commonwealth countries listed non-citizens are not permitted to join the permanent Civil or Armed Services. There is considerable variation in the practice amongst the countries listed relating to certain professional activities. India does not permit non-citizens to engage in some professional activities, but the countries generally appear to allow non-citizens to practice in most professional activities.
If a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies also has citizenship of the country concerned, as many do, he will not be debarred from any of these rights; otherwise there is no apparent difference in respect of such rights between citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who owe that citizenship to their connection with a former colony, other citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies or citizens of third countries.